Their Finest Hour

Their Finest Hour; tells the story of Munster’s famous victory over the mighty All Blacks in Thomond Park, Limerick in 1978. Available Nationwide on DVD & Video from February 20th.

Their Finest Hour; tells the story of Munster’s famous victory over the mighty All Blacks in Thomond Park, Limerick in 1978. Available Nationwide on DVD & Video from February 20th.

In the early winter of 1978 New Zealand were to record victories over Ireland, England Scotland and Wales and go on to win the ” Grand Slam”. Prior to this though they had to play Munster and it was a day when pride was restored to Irish Rugby and an historic first achieved. On this great day the All Blacks suffered their first and only defeat ever to an Irish team and it was to be Munster’s Finest Hour.

This documentary sets the scene by recalling close encounters with the mighty All Blacks in 1963 and in 1973. Players from both sides in those classic matches are interviewed including legends of the game like Tom Kiernan, Mick English, Moss Keane, B.G. Williams, many of whom went on to be involved in the 1978 game.

Turning to the game itself, the All Blacks were tackled off the pitch. In the documentary New Zealand’s famous golden boy, Stu Wilson tells how he “just wanted out of there” and the game plan is discussed by all the Munster players.

“Their Finest Hour” concludes with the impact the result had on both Irish and New Zealand Rugby. It was exactly the kick start that Irish Rugby needed and all the New Zealand players credit that game as being the catalyst for their success in capturing that Grand Slam in 1978 for the first time in their history

But victory on that great day in October 1978 belonged to Munster and it proved to be “Their Finest Hour”.